Caleb and Joshua did just that. Moses sent them to spy out the promised land along with ten others. All were leaders of their tribes. All saw the same things as far as what was literally before their eyes. But what they focused on was far different, and the impact on their lives greater still.
After 40 days of scouting in the promised land, they returned and reported back to Moses.
Numbers 13:27-29:And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.It was a land of abundance with walled cities and strong people. They all saw this. They saw grapes so large it took two men to carry a cluster; they saw pomegranates and figs. They also saw strong people and fortified cities. But what did they focus on?
Caleb and Joshua remembered God's promise. This was the land He would give to the children of Israel, and they saw everything in light of that promise. Nothing was bigger than that!
Numbers 13:30:He was bold! He was ready! And he knew God had promised it to them. He quieted everyone down and told them, they were "well able to overcome it."
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
And yet ten that went with him, seeing exactly the same scenario, saw it completely differently. And they jumped in to set the record straight, according to what they saw.
Numbers 13:31-14:1:The people could have believed they were "well able" as Caleb had said. But they chose instead to believe the ten, that they were "not able." They cried all night, they murmured against Moses and Aaron, deciding they would have been better off to die in Egypt. It's amazing how fast fear and negatives can spread, how quickly things can get blown all out of proportion.
But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
Ultimately, because of how they saw the situation, because of what they said about it, the ten and all who believed them died in the wilderness. Of their generation, only Caleb and Joshua were allowed by God to live in the promised land.
They saw the same land, the same crops, the same walled cities and the same strong people. But Joshua and Caleb saw it all in light of God's promised; He would give this land to them. There was abundance; there were cities already built; it was going to be theirs. Any people, no matter how strong, no matter how big, were much smaller than God Almighty. He was the same God who brought plagues to Egypt and delivered them from bondage, healing them and delivering them.
He is the same God today. Whatever we are facing in our lives, we can face it head on. We can look it square in the eye and face it with God's Word. Whatever the situation, nothing is bigger than God Almighty. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth and He loves us. We can go to God's Word, know His promises and stand upon them.
I John 5:4b: And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith [believing].Keep standing on God's Word and the victory is yours. What a glorious life He has given us!
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